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Record Details

NHER Number:6711
Type of record:Building
Name:Wolterton Hall

Summary

The architect Thomas Ripley built Wolterton Hall for Horatio Walpole in 1727-41. The Hall takes the form of a block of seven by three bays, and has a plain exterior without decoration. The plan of the house is triple pile and an early example of a Palladian standard. George Stanley Repton added arcading and staircases to a terrace on the garden side of the house in 1828-29. Inside, there are numerous fine fireplaces and plaster ceilings in the Geometric style although restorations were carried out in the early 20th century.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TG 1642 3178
Map Sheet:TG13SE
Parish:WICKMERE, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

February 1952. Listed, Grade I.
Listing Description:
Country house. Circa 1726-1740 by Thomas Ripley for Horatio Walpole. Circa 1827-32 G.S. Repton for the third Earl of Orford. Brick and stone with slate roofs. Rectangular on plan with later additions. North entrance front of 3 stores, 7 bays. Centre 3 bays break forward under stone pediment with coat of arms in the tympanum. Sash windows with glazing bars. Ground floor has banded stone rustication; keystones to flat arches. Central door flanked by pilasters; stone platband. Main entrance formerly to first floor but stairs removed in early 19th century. Original entrance door, now a window, with attached Tuscan column to left and right, plain stone cornice and pediment. Shouldered and eared architraves and plain cornices to sashes. Sill band. Second floor sashes of 6 lights having shouldered and eared architraves. Plain stone cornice. 2 stone stacks. To left a 4 bay, 2 storey range terminating in a one bay, 3 storey pavilion, all added 1827-32. Sash windows with glazing bars. Stone ground floor; keystones to window openings; stone platband. First floor windows have shouldered and eared architraves. Pavilion window has balustraded balcony and surround with segmental pediment over. Stone sill band. Pavilion has stone platband. Second floor 6 light sash has eared and shouldered architrave, keystone. Plain cornice: stone pediment. East front of 3 bays, 3 storeys, partly obscured by later wing. 20th century, open-fronted lean-to across face. Brick banded rustication to ground floor. Stone platband. Eared and shouldered architraves to first floor window with keystone; stone sill band. Second floor eared and shouldered architraves to 6-light sashes. Plain cornice. Balustraded parapet continues from south east corner about half the width of house probably added c1830. 2 stone stacks. South, garden front as north front with arcade with banded rustication and balustrade added c1830. Flight of stone steps with stone balusters to either side. First floor sashes altered to reach down to level of terrace above the arcade. Brick pediment with coat of arms over projecting centre 3 bays. Balustraded parapet. 2 stone stacks. West front as east but glazed central door to ground floor and side windows all having stone reveals. Above this a Venetian window with Ionic attached columns. Balustraded parapet. 2 stone stacks. Interior. Central domed stairwell the full height of house. Stone cantilevered staircase with console supports; wrought iron balustrade with lyre pattern; ramped handrail in banded mahogany. Marble hall formerly entrance hall has chimney piece flanked by consoles, overmantle with broken pediment; carved overdoors. Former front doorway has pediment on brackets. Ribbed ceiling. Other state rooms all with carved oversoors, dentil cornices. Some chimney pieces by Richard Fisher of Ripon c1735. Doors of American walnut given by Queen Caroline to the first Lord Walpole.
Information from (S1).

Old hall rebuilt 1727 and 1827. Additions from elsewhere.
For full details see secondary file.
E. Rose (NAU) 14 May 1980.

For deserted medieval village see site NHER 25494.
E. Rose (NAU) 11 October 1989.

Monument Types

  • GARDEN WALL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • GREAT HOUSE (18th Century to 21st Century - 1727 AD to 2100 AD)

Associated Finds - none

Protected Status

  • Listed Building
  • Listed Building
  • Listed Building
  • Listed Building
  • Listed Building
  • Listed Building

Sources and further reading

---Aerial Photograph: TG1631 B-D,E-H,L-P,Q-AA.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1989. [Article on the removal of Second World War bombs from the grounds of Woterton Hall]. 3 October.
---Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1993. TG 1631AB, AC.
---Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1994. TG 1631AD - AF.
---Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1995. TG 1631AG - AS.
---Article in Serial: Klausmier, A. 2001. Houghton, Raynham and Wolterton Halls. On Thomas Ripley's Major Works in Norfolk. Architectural Success amidst Political Tensions. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt IV pp 607-629.
---Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 13 SE 5 [3].
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 730-732.
---Serial: 1818. Excursions through Norfolk.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2009. A tale of two halls and a stately success story. 10 October.
---Monograph: Vaughan-Lewis, W. & M.. 2010. Good Neighbours: Itteringham, Norfolk in the 18th century. pp 193-195, 198.
---Leaflet: R.W. Ketton-Cremer. Wolterton Hall. English Life Publications.
---Photograph: 2007/8. Photographs of Peach House, Wolterton Hall, Wickmere. Colour.
---Article in Serial: Nares, G.. 1957. Wolterton Hall, Norfolk-I The home of Lord Walpole. Country Life. 18 July.
---Article in Serial: Nares, G.. 1957. Wolterton Hall, Norfolk II The home of Lord Walpole. Country Life. 25 July.
---Photograph: Photographs of The Peach House, in the walled garden, Wolterton Hall. Colour.
---Photograph: Photographs of walled garden and stables, Wolterton Hall. Black & white.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2013. Old Hall star of war TV show.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1991. Breathing new life into historic hall. 5 February.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2016. Wolterton Hall country house estate sells to private buyers. 19 April.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2006. Saved peachery will be fruit of family's labours. 20 May.
---Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Listing Notification. Notification. DNF6500.
<S1>Designation: English Heritage. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1049875.

Related records

MNO4796Related to: Peach House about 140m SE of Wolterton Hall WICKMERE (Revoked)

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